Reflections on my 38th Year...

Tomorrow is the 1st day of the end of my 30s...  and I gotta tell you, life is way better now than it was at the end of my 20s.. (actually everything but the fact that I met my husband when I was 28 and then got engaged at 29 and married at 30)...   We were looking at pictures the other day of about 8 years ago and we decided that we've both aged well..  I attribute most of it to Antonio but I know it's more than that. I live happily, void of much drama, surrounding myself with people that I love and that love me back. I am lucky. I realize this. 
So, on the eve of my 39th birthday, I'm reflecting on my past year..

1.  6 days from my birthday, I had my sugery.  I remember going out for my birthday dinner last year with Joy and Michelle and having a glass of wine (b/c I had googled "can I have a glass of wine during my pre-op" and found Southern Jen's blog!!!) and a piece of meat.. I think that's all I had.  I was worried I'd never be able to eat the same things I loved.  Fast forward to this year, for my birthday lunch with Michelle and Joy on Wednesday, we went to Chipotle.  I had about 1/2 of a burrito bowl and a cupcake.  The only thing different was that last year before my pre-op, I would have eaten the entire bowl, some chips and guacamole and maybe 2 cupcakes.. 

2.  This year I found out who I could count on and they were people that I didnt' expect it from. Many of my  friendships have gotten stronger and I've met some kickass people "on the internet".

3.  My relationship with my husband has had it's ups and downs (mostly due to my BIL's involvement in our lives this summer) but it's made me realize how much I truly and deeply love that man. He's a total pain in the ass at times (as am I!) but together, we work.

4.  Work has been challenging but has always remained the best place I've ever worked. I love the people I work with and some have become some of my closest friends.

5. I've put myself back on the list. I do things for me now, not just for everyone else.  I still am sensitive to other's needs but everyonce in a while, I say NO.

Now, if I could only get rid of the gray hairs and the pimps that have appeared on my chinny chin chin the last couple of days, life would be pretty much near perfect. 

Stay tuned to my 1 year bandiversary blog next week!!WooHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

hope you all have a great weekend!
xo,js

Aches and Pains, Bumps and Bruises...

Ladies (and the very few gents), I am a HOT MESS....   I am walking around looking like I got run over by a truck and then rear ended by the same truck..  why you ask?

Because Sunday, I tried to be Superwoman..

• I walked 12 miles for a training walk - Oy..   wasn't so bad until I hit abut mile 11 and then the bitching commenced..  oh, my legs hurt, oh my feet hurt, oh, I'm getting sick of walking.. blah blah blah..  Thankfully that was the last of the long training walks - we go down from here and then the 13.whatever is in 3 weeks and then this girl is checking it off her list and is dunzo.. 
• I started packing.  I did not lolly gag around.. I bought 6 huge bins from Target and proceeded to pack up all the glass in my kitchen, my entire china cabinet and then purge purge purge.. it's amazing what you can collect in 3+ years..  I made piles for the trash, piles for the garage sale and piles to take with.. I must have kicked said bins at least 3/4 different times and then proceeded to run into many a bin while moving around the dining room, thus the bruises!!
• I shopped - went to Best Buy for a TV, grocery shopping, target, Old Navy.. you name it, I went there.

Usually on my training walk days, I tend to take it easy after I've been out in the hot AZ sun walking for 3 hours or so, but something in me told me I needed to get moving and get packing. Glad I did, but my body hates me for it today. Yesterday was rough..  does it ever get easier?

Friday FIVE - and a major NSV!!!

Happy Friday all!!! I'm hoping that you all have some fun plans for this weekend!! Me, notsomuch!  I don't have anything planned and I like it!  Thought I'd do a quick little five bullet point post to fill you in on some things..

1.  thanks to those that responded to my last two posts - the first about the voting for my Aunt and Uncle's project in memory of my cousin - KEEP VOTING!!!! and the 2nd about the clothes. I'll be packing up some stuff this weekend and hopefully shipping out quite a few boxes to many of you!

2.  Have I mentioned that we are moving in about 3-4 weeks? If not, we are! I'm super excited about it so I think we'll probably start packing this weekend. We are ready for a change and our new house is fantastic!!!  Lots of space for visitors!

3.  Had a little pity party this week which is pretty unlike me.  I was feeling sad about some friendships I have here and putting more effort than I get out of them and consistently feeling as if I'm the back-up friend and I hate that feeling.  I'm pretty much over it, but it still sucks when you feel that way.

4. MY NSV - I got a dress for the wedding I'm going to in Chicago in a couple of weeks!  It's a funny story. I went to Dillards and found two dresses I liked. One was $89 and the other was $189 so I grabbed both in a size 20..  the one that was $189 was not too cute on so I was keeping my fingers crossed that the other would work. I tried on the 20, it was too big, so I walked out, grabbed the 18, again too big. So, I walked out again and grabbed the 16 thinking there's no way this is going to fit and I'm going to be bummed b/c this will be one of those where you are exactly right between the two sizes and I didn't want to have to deal with getting the 18 altered. Miracle of all Miracles, the 16 fit!!!  AND, it still roomy enough that I might have to get it altered a little in the arm holes.  Here it is:  full shot of the dress, close up of the rosettes all over it and then me.. don't mind the hair please!!  Also, bonus is that I already had a pair of pretty comfy peep-toe sling-back wedges that look cute with it. So, all I need is a little pashmina and some big earrings to go with it (I'm thinking hot pink pashmina!) thoughts?

5.  This weekend is another big Training walk - 12 miles.. Oh lord help me..  if you don't hear from me next week, I'm off to the side of the road somewhere crawling trying to get home.

Have a great weekend!
xo,js

Quick Post to get your help on something!

Hi all - 2nd post of the day but I need some favors..

If you look at the top left of my blog you'll notice a place to vote for a project for the Pepsi Refresh Project.
Here's the background: 

My cousin Trevor was killed in action in Iraq in 2003.  His parents (my dad's sister and brother-in-law) and family are building Blum's Landing in his memory.  It will be a B&B for wounded troops and their families to come for a short vacation in beautiful northern Michigan, FREE OF CHARGE. A place for relaxation and healing.

Pepsi donates $250,000 to the two ideas that garner the most votes per month.  Currently, Blums Landing project is ranked at 66th so we have a long way to go!!

You can vote three different ways per day.  AND, you can put it on your Facebook and tell your friends to vote as well.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

xo,js

Clothes Call..

So, this weekend I decided to finally go through my closet and purge all the stuff that I know does not fit anymore. I have done quite a few purges over the past several months and have shipped quite a bit of clothes out to my girl Amy but for some reason had been hanging onto some other stuff that I could have shipped out as well..   I did keep one pair of "before pants" so when I do hit goal someday in the next year or so, I can see the massive change!  

I do owe some stuff to Angela that I've promised her about 3 weeks ago but slow is how I roll these days.  so that box will most likely go out this weekend!! But, if anyone knows of anyone in need of pants, sweaters, shirts, loungewear in the size 22 - 26 range, let me know (email is jbucky28@yahoo.com). there's too much to post pictures so you'll just have to trust me its in good condition!!  I'll probably donate by next weekend if I don't get any takers!   The bonus in getting rid of all the clothes is all the empty hangers ready for new clothes!

Thank goodness it's my birthday next week and I have some sweet gift cards to use up for shopping!!  I'm pretty much out of anything for bottoms except for Jeans!

have a great day!
xo,js

I have a new boyfriend...

Yes, it's true, I'm cheating on my two main men in my life Timmy and Antonio.  I can't help it. This new boyfriend of mine is so dreamy and not only does he have the looks, but he has the very chill style and most importantly, the voice to make me swoon..  the truth is, I've fallen for Jack Johnson.  We met last night and I can't stop thinking of him...

see how he was looking at me??   He might of felt threatened by the other man in my life who was sitting next to me yawning:

but he just kept on singing those sweet sweet songs right to me. 

Truth be told, he's been wooing me for about a month now, when I was given tickets by the assistant of the President of our company who loves me..  I definitely played hard to get, even thinking that I may not go b/c it was a Sunday night, I was tired, we had been celebrating Timmy's birthday all weekend long. But, the tickets were free and I love me some free shit. AND, they were VIP - 2nd row, dead center, it was a beautiful night and we were meeting our good friends Clay and Nicole there.  He definitely won me over.  I'm hooked and may never come out of this haze..  but, I hear there's another woman(she's on my left below) vying for his attention - this woman shoved her way to the front of the pit and was within 5 feet of him. She may have won this battle for Jack, but I'm not giving up a fight.  She looks menacing doesn't she?? 

We had a great weekend - watched a fantastic Michigan State win over University of Michigan (GO STATE!) and celebrated Tim's birthday with several good friends.  Before I left the house yesterday, I checked myself out in a mirror in my house and was shocked that for the first time in a long time, I didn't see a fat girl, I saw me..  I loved it. So, of course, had to take a picture!!

I went and got a fill today so I'm really hoping that this does me some good and the scale can start moving downwards again. It's so easy to get frustrated with this band!!!  I have never been patient and this whole journey definitely tries my patience.  I now have 9.75 in a 14 cc band. The doctor is so happy with my progress but she needed to talk me down from the ledge when I started bitching about how slow I'm losing!! 

Hope you all had a great weekend!  xo,js

This and That...

Well, it's been another full week since I last posted and there's been a LOT going on! So, I thought I'd do a little bullet point post for those of you still interested! 

• My wrist still hurts like a mo-fo...  I haven't been to the specialist yet b/c I think he's just going to tell me the same thing as the other doctor said - sprained wrist, enflamed tendons - so what's the point?? I admit I have not been good at wearing the brace all the time as I should, but it's a pain in the ass to write and type with it and I have to write and type pretty much all day long!
• My 1/2 marathon training is in full swing. Every week I walk one mile more and every week I say there is NO way I can walk 13.whatever miles...  I'm up to 11 miles this week..  and I will still bitch about it!  everyone keeps saying once I do one, I'll get hooked, but I'm pretty certain that my 1/2 on November 7th will be my first and last!! I would love to run some, but I'm still not there yet!
• I got to spend Sunday afternoon and into the night at the hospital with Michelle this past week.  She has been having lots of stomach issues this past year and everytime she goes to see someone, they say it's acid reflux, all the while, she was convinced it was her gallbladder. A few weeks ago, she had an endoscopy done and everything came back normal. Fast forward to this Sunday. Our friend Joy calls me and asks me if I had heard from Michelle b/c she had just talked to her and she was in a lot of pain. M's husband B had just left to go out of town on a business trip. So, I called Michelle, could tell she had been crying, and I drove over to her house. It took me about 45 minutes to convince her we needed to go to the ER.  So, we packed up little KD, dropped her off at a friend's house and went to the ER, and after about 6-7 hours, blood work, ultrasound, etc.. they admitted her b/c she had a "rogue" stone that was blocking her ducts leading from her liver to her pancreas..  and tons of gallstones in her gallbladder..  I stayed the night at the hospital with her and on Monday morning, Brandon was able to get home and Kennedy was babysat and Michelle was on her way to surgery to get her issue taken care of.  On Tuesday, they took out her gallbladder. They were concerned about damage to her liver so they opted to do two different surgeries on two different days and keep her for 3 nights for observation. Thankfully, she is out of the hospital and back home resting. Her belly looks a lot like mine did almost a year ago after my LB surgery!!  Of course the girl weighs like 95 lbs so it's a little smaller than mine, but the incisions are almost the same!!  If only they would have listened to her last year, things would have not gotten to this point. So, moral of the story, if you firmly believe that something other than what the doctor is telling you is wrong, speak up and keep speaking up until someone listens to you!!  She even wanted to leave the ER on Sunday before anyone saw us b/c she just knew that they were going to tell her it wasn't her gallbladder.  But, luckily, Dr. McHotty (he was hot and I was hooked on every word he said!! ) ran a boatload of tests and got to the root of the problem. It could have been a LOT worse had it not been taken care of.
• I'm heading to Chicago at the end of the month for my friend's wedding and need to get a dress.. I'm still hovering in the plus size section of most stores.  Any advice on where I should look (websites?) I'm most likely going to hit up Nordstrom & Macy's this weekend but any good sites I should check out?

Ok, there's so much more I want to talk about but that will do it!! My weight continues to hold firm at 76 down.. super irritating but I haven't been working out as much as I was - just mainly walking and working out with Kathi - haven't done Zumba in about 2 weeks and I miss it!  I would love to be down 80 by October 29th, which is my 1 year bandiversary.. we shall see... 

xo,js